Stephen Colbert has joined the cast of Paramount+'s Star Trek: Starfleet Academy as the voice of the Digital Dean of Students. The late-night host revealed his role in a video message at New York Comic Con in October 2025. Fans can hear his voice making announcements throughout the first season.
Stephen Colbert, known for hosting The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, which is set to end in May, has taken on a new project in the Star Trek universe. In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy on Paramount+, Colbert plays a voice-only character: the Digital Dean of Students. He has not appeared physically in the first season so far.
Colbert announced his involvement in a video message for New York Comic Con in October 2025. "I am honored to announce that my beautiful voice will be joining 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' as the Digital Dean of Students," he said. He shared an example line from the series: "Attention, Ensign Krebs, your Talaxian Furfly has exited the replicator and is now mating with itself. Please report to Science Lab One immediately. Children are watching."
Colbert expressed enthusiasm for the role, noting, "I'm thrilled to join this universe that I've loved for so long, and unlike my on-camera castmates, I'm thrilled to join it without having to spend four hours in hair and makeup every day." His character delivers various school-related announcements throughout the series.
Colbert's affinity for science fiction and fantasy is well-established. He is a fan of Lord of the Rings and had a cameo in the 2013 film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. In a 2018 interview with Paul Giamatti, who plays the part-Klingon villain Nus Braka in Starfleet Academy, Colbert discussed his passion for sci-fi literature by authors like Henry Kuttner and Larry Niven.
Recently, Colbert discussed his role with Giamatti on The Late Show in January, where Giamatti joked about Colbert as a coworker: "You need a little work, but you're an up-and-comer. You've got a future."